DE20200278U1 - Bicycle frame drop=out, has mounting section which can receive insert for hub or chain gear - Google Patents

Abstract

The mounting sections (2b) of the left and right drop-outs (1b) can each be fitted with an insert (13) for a hub gear or a chain gear. The upper and lower struts (19, 20) of the bicycle frame are connected together at an acute angle in the mounting section of the drop-out. The mounting section contains a slot (17) for receiving the end of an axle.

Description

Patent Attorneys Wenzel & Kalkoff

PO Box 2448 * 58414 Witten * 02302/914550

Registration documents:

Dropout of a bicycle frame

Jürgen Anis

48720 Rosendahl-Darfeld

Attorney file:

07109.0

Description

The invention relates to a dropout of a bicycle frame, on which the rear section of the lower strut and the rear section of the upper strut connect at an acute angle to a receiving section which has a slot-shaped opening for inserting an axle end, in particular one provided with a thread. The invention also relates to bicycle frames provided with dropouts.

The arrangement and connection of the lower and upper struts is of secondary importance for the invention. What is more important is the design of the receiving section for the respective axle end.

Dropouts for hub gears are technically identical on the right and left dropouts (seen in the direction of travel). They are one-piece and the opening for inserting and holding the axle end is designed as a slot that is angled downwards or forwards. The position of the axle within the slot can be changed to tighten the chain. However, this also changes the height of the axle in relation to the frame.

The dropouts for bicycles with derailleur gears differ from those for hub gears, and they are designed differently on the right and left. The left dropout, for example, has a slot that is open at the bottom and is directed steeply downwards and forwards, while the slot-shaped opening on the right side has a basically the same shape and position, but the receiving section is otherwise equipped with a derailleur hanger, namely a

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fork and plate-shaped connecting part for the connection to the chain system and is inserted into a recess in the receiving section and secured by means of at least one screw. An arm extends diagonally downwards from the connecting part, to the end of which the derailleur is attached. For derailleur systems, the left dropout is therefore made in one piece and the right dropout in two pieces.

The differences in the dropouts for hub and derailleur gears apply regardless of how the lower and upper struts of the frame are designed and connected to the corresponding sections of the support section in which the lower and upper struts continue. In any case, the manufacturing effort for producing the frames is considerable in view of the differences in the design of the dropouts shown. The same applies to storage.

It is therefore an object of the invention to reduce the costs for production and storage when manufacturing dropouts for bicycle frames with derailleur gears and with hub gears.

To achieve this object, the invention provides that the receiving section of the right dropout and the left dropout - viewed in the direction of travel - are each designed in such a way that the dropouts can each be equipped optionally with an insert for a hub gear or with an insert for a derailleur gear.

The invention achieves in a simple manner that for right and left dropouts, regardless of whether the dropout is later used for a hub gear or for a derailleur gear, only one and the same

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Blank, for example as a forged part made of flat steel or aluminum, is manufactured and used. To adapt to the type of gear system, the dropouts on the receiving section are each provided with a corresponding insert, which takes into account the different requirements of a hub gear or a derailleur gear in the area of the receiving section. Preferred shapes and arrangements of the inserts as well as practical designs of the receiving section for a connection with the respective insert will be explained later. The use of a uniform dropout significantly reduces the manufacturing and storage costs for bicycle frames. Due to the standardized production, tool costs are also reduced accordingly.

Preferably, the opening in the receiving section, which serves to insert and hold the axle end, has the same shape and position on the right and left dropouts. Regardless of whether the opening in the receiving section of the dropout is made during forging and stamping or later by milling, the manufacturing costs are further reduced by this standardization.

Preferably, the opening in the receiving section, which serves to insert and hold the axle end, has the same shape and position for hub gears and derailleur gears. An additional improvement is achieved by the fact that the standardization of the dropouts also extends to their opening in the receiving section for the axle end, thus also including the use for hub gears and derailleur gears.

The invention applies equally to the connection of the respective inserts on the outside and inside of the receiving section of the dropout. According to the invention,

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However, it is preferred that the insert for a hub gear or for a derailleur gear can be connected to the outside of the receiving section. This makes handling the inserts easier.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the opening of the receiving section has a slanted slot that is open at the bottom and opens into a horizontal slot at the top. This uniform, essentially T-shaped opening is easy to manufacture and, in conjunction with appropriately designed inserts, allows an equally simple adaptation to the desired purpose of the dropout, as will become clear.

According to an advantageous further development, an embodiment of the insert for a hub gear has an elongated hole which, in the installation position of the insert, is aligned with the elongated hole of the opening of the receiving section. The associated axle end is held in the elongated hole of the insert and in the corresponding elongated hole of the receiving section and can be adjusted horizontally to tension the chain without the previous disadvantage of changing the height of the axle relative to the frame.

The standardization of the shape of the dropout is further promoted by the fact that, according to a preferred development of the invention, the insert for hub gears is functionally the same for right and left dropouts.

With regard to the shape of the insert for derailleur gears, according to a further development of the invention, it is preferred that the insert for the left dropout has a slanted slot that is open at the bottom and that, when the insert is installed, is aligned with the slanted slot of the opening in the receiving area. In this way, the

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A certain horizontal slot on the dropout is covered, and the diagonal slot required for inserting and holding the associated axle end is available for the left dropout. The insert is conveniently attached in a suitable manner in the receiving area, because it does not have to be removed for later assembly purposes or the like.

According to a further development of the invention, it is further provided that the insert for derailleur gears for the right dropout has an oblique slot which, when the insert is installed, is aligned with the oblique slot of the opening in the receiving area, and an arm which runs diagonally downwards when the insert is installed for connecting the derailleur gear shift. The insert for right dropouts therefore has a similar shape to the derailleur hangers that have been used up to now in order to ensure that the axle end can be inserted, held and secured, and that the derailleur gear shift shift can be connected. However, as will become clear, the upper area of the insert is adapted to the design of the receiving area.

According to the invention, it is possible to attach the respective insert to the outside of the receiving section of the dropout and to fix it under appropriate pressure between the outside of the receiving section and the clamping device or an intermediate disk when tightening the respective clamping fastening for the axle ends, if necessary after prior positioning using pins or screws and holes. According to a further development according to the invention, however, it is preferred that the receiving section has a recess for receiving the respective insert. The recess has the advantage that the insert does not increase the thickness of the dropout or at least does not increase it significantly and also enables the insert to be positioned on the dropout.

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The recess should also be chosen to be the same for derailleur and hub gears in order to standardize the design. It is best placed on the outside of the left and right dropouts.

According to a further development of the invention, the inserts are designed in the shape of a plate so that they can be easily and simply removed. In conjunction with the design of the receiving section as a recess, the inserts can be inserted into this recess in an advantageous manner. If the thickness of the inserts and the size of the recess are appropriately matched, a flush finish of the dropout can be achieved with the insert inserted. This is a preferred embodiment.

According to a further development of the invention, the recess in the right and left dropouts has a circular arc shape at least in sections, and the inserts are adapted to this shape at least in sections. In this way, the recess can be produced in a uniform manner very easily, e.g. by milling, and the
The shape of the inserts can therefore be easily adjusted.

Based on a circular arc shape, which is executed at least in sections, the recess is arranged on the receiving section according to a further development of the invention and the shape of the receiving section is selected in such a way that when the right dropout is used for a derailleur, the arm of the insert for connecting the derailleur extends freely downwards. For this purpose, the circular arc-shaped recess is expediently arranged as far as necessary in the lower area of the receiving section, so that the edging edge of the

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Recess has an interruption through which the insert for the derailleur gears can extend downwards. A particularly simple manufacture and handling of the recess and the inserts at the same time is achieved if the insert for hub gears is a circular disk that can be inserted into the recess.

The same applies to the insert for the left dropout on derailleur gears if the insert for this is a circular disk that can be inserted into the recess.

According to a further development of the invention, the insert for the right dropout in derailleur gears corresponds in the upper section to the circular shape of the recess, and the rear section of the insert - in the installed position - is extended as an arm for holding the chain mechanism. This shape adaptation results in simple, safe and precise positioning of the insert on the dropout. The insert is conveniently attached to the dropout in a detachable manner because the insert is only removed again later in special cases.

According to a further development of the invention, the insert for a derailleur or for a hub gear has a hole or a threaded hole, preferably in the upper area, for receiving a screw or a pin or the like, which in the installed position is aligned with a hole or a threaded hole arranged eccentrically in the recess for fastening and/or as a twist lock of the insert relative to the recess and the receiving section. In the case of a hub gear, the insert for the right and left dropouts only requires a twist lock, so that, for example, a press-fitted screw in the

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A pin inserted into the recess of the dropout's receiving section is sufficient to engage with the hole in the insert with a clearance fit. In the case of a derailleur, however, it is preferred that the inserts are attached to the dropout with a screw fastening.

The invention explained above is equally applicable to dropouts which are attached to the lower and upper struts of a dropout, as well as to bicycle frames as a whole which have dropouts designed in accordance with the invention, regardless of the type of struts used to manufacture the frame.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a bicycle frame with dropout;

Fig. 2 is a perspective and exploded view of a left dropout with an insert for a hub gear;

Fig. 3 is a perspective and exploded view of a right dropout for a hub gear;

Fig. 4 is a perspective and exploded view of a left dropout for a derailleur;

Fig.5

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a perspective and exploded view of a right dropout for a derailleur.

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A bicycle frame shown in Fig. 1 has upper struts 19 and lower struts 20, to which, for example, a

- viewed in the direction of travel of the wheel - a right dropout Ib for a hub gear is connected. The right dropout Ib, which is made of flat steel or aluminum, for example, is firmly connected to a rear section 19b of the upper strut and to a rear section 20b of the lower strut in a suitable and known manner with the respective upper strut 19 and the respective lower strut 20 of the frame, for example butt-welded there. The same applies to the left dropouts la with the rear sections 19a and 20a (Fig. 2 and 4). The connection techniques for attaching dropouts to the rest of the frame of bicycles are otherwise known, so that they will not be discussed further here.

Details of left dropouts la can be seen in Fig. 2 and 4, in Fig. 2 with equipment for a hub gear and in Fig. 4 with equipment for a derailleur gear. In contrast, Fig. 3 and 5 show examples of right dropouts Ib, namely Fig. 3 for a hub gear and Fig. 5 for a derailleur gear.

The left dropout la comprises (Fig. 2 and 4) one of the rear sections 19a of the upper strut 19 and one of the rear sections 20a of the lower strut 20, which converge at an acute angle to a receiving section 2a. Accordingly, the right dropouts Ib in Fig. 3 and 5 have one of the rear sections 19b of the upper strut 19 and one of the rear sections 20b of the lower strut 20, which merge at an acute angle into a receiving section 2b. For the sake of simplicity, the indices "a" and "b" are omitted from the reference symbols of the other individual parts. Instead, the same reference symbols apply for the left and right dropouts la and Ib.

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Use.

In the receiving area 2a, 2b there is a circular arc-shaped recess 3, the edging edge of which has an interruption 4 in the rear, lower area, as can be seen in the drawing. In the position shown, in the area of the recess 3 there is an essentially T-shaped opening 5, which consists of an oblique slot 6 and a horizontal slot 9, with the oblique slot 6, which is open at the bottom, merging into the slot 9 at the top. Above the opening 5 there is a hole or threaded hole 7, into which, in the case of the threaded hole, for example, a grub screw 8 can be screwed.

As shown, there are two holes 22 on the rear section 19a, 19b of the top strut 19, with which holes 24 of a disc brake adapter 23 are aligned when the latter is screwed onto the rear section 19a, 19b. Threaded holes 12 in the rear section 19a, 19b of the top strut 19 are used to connect mudguard and luggage carrier struts (not shown).

In Fig. 1, 2 and 3, 13 designates inserts for a hub gear system, and 14 in Fig. 4 and 15 in Fig. 5 designate inserts for a derailleur gear system.

If the left and right dropouts la and lb are equipped for a hub gear, the grub screw 8 is screwed into the threaded hole 7 so far that a part of the screw 8 protrudes into the recess 3 that corresponds approximately to the size of the recess 3. It can thus engage with play in a hole 16 of the insert 13 when the latter engages with play in the recess 3 during assembly of the rear wheel axle (not shown) and is placed against it. If the axle ends are aligned with the bevel

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slot 6 upwards into the respective elongated hole 9, the corresponding insert 13 is placed on the respective axle end until the insert 13 rests in the recess 3. The respective axle end engages through an elongated hole 17 of the insert 13, which is aligned with the elongated hole 9 of the recess 3 when the insert 13 is installed. The diagonal slot 6 is now closed by the insert 13 and the axle can be adjusted horizontally within the horizontal elongated holes 9, 17 when the chain is tensioned. The axle ends are secured in the usual way using nuts or quick release clamps. The assembly is therefore the same for both sides.

If the dropouts la, Ib are to be prepared for a derailleur, insert 14 is used on the left and insert 15 on the right instead of insert 13 (Fig. 4 and 5).

The insert 14 is, like the insert 13, a basically disk-shaped component, but with a bore or threaded bore 18 and an open slot 25, as shown, which are aligned with the bore or threaded bore 7 or the oblique slot 6 of the recess 3 when the insert 14 is placed in the recess 3. The insert 14 is screwed into the recess 3 of the left dropout 1a using the screw 8.

Accordingly, the insert 15, which has a bore or threaded bore 26 and a slot 27, is inserted into the recess 3 of the right dropout 1b (Fig. 5) and screwed tight with the screw 8. The dropouts 1a, 1b are then ready to receive the axle ends (not shown).

The hook-shaped insert 15 has an arm 2 9 with a hole 28 for the connection of the chain

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work, whereby the arm 2 9 can extend freely downwards from the recess 3 through the interruption 4, while the upper part of the insert 15 fills the circular part of the recess 3 with a clearance fit, so that the insert 15 is secured in a predetermined position, especially since the insert 15 is releasably attached to the dropout 1b with the screw 8.

The thickness of the inserts 13, 14, 15 is furthermore selected such that they are flush with the respective dropouts 1a, 1b when they are inserted into the associated recess 3.

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Claims (18)

1. Dropout of a bicycle frame, at which the rear section of the lower strut and the rear section of the upper strut connect at an acute angle to a receiving section which has a slot-shaped opening for inserting an axle end, characterized in that the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ) of the right dropout ( 1b ) and the left dropout ( 1a ) - viewed in the direction of travel - is each designed such that the dropout ( 1a , 1b ) can be equipped with an insert ( 13 ) for a hub gear or with an insert ( 14 , 15 ) for a derailleur gear. 2. Dropout according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening ( 5 ) in the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ), which serves to insert and hold the axle end, has the same shape and position on the left and right dropouts ( 1a , 1b ). 3. Dropout according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening ( 5 ) in the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ), which serves to insert and hold the axle end, has the same shape and position for hub gears and for derailleur gears. 4. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) for a hub gear or for a derailleur gear can be connected to the outside of the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ). 5. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening ( 5 ) of the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ) has an oblique slot ( 6 ) which is open at the bottom and opens into a horizontal elongated hole ( 9 ) at the top. 6. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an embodiment of the insert ( 13 ) for a hub gear has an elongated hole ( 17 ) which, in the installed position of the insert ( 13 ), is aligned with the elongated hole ( 9 ) of the opening ( 6 ) of the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ). 7. Dropout according to claim 6, characterized in that the insert ( 13 ) for a hub gear is functionally the same for left and right dropouts ( 1a , 1b ). 8. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert ( 14 ) intended for derailleur gears for the left dropout ( 1a ) has an oblique slot ( 25 ) open at the bottom which, in the installed position of the insert ( 14 ), is aligned with the oblique slot ( 6 ) of the opening ( 5 ) of the receiving section ( 2a ). 9. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert ( 15 ) intended for a derailleur for the right dropout ( 1b ) has an oblique slot ( 27 ) which, in the installed position of the insert ( 15 ), is aligned with the oblique slot ( 6 ) of the opening ( 5 ) of the receiving section ( 2b ), and an arm ( 29 ) which extends obliquely downwards in the installed position for connecting the derailleur of the derailleur. 10. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving section ( 2 a, 2 b) has a recess ( 3 ) for receiving the respective insert ( 13 , 14 , 15 ). 11. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inserts ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) are plate-shaped. 12. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, in particular claim 10, characterized in that the respective insert ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) is received in the recess ( 3 ) of the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ) in a substantially flush manner. 13. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess ( 3 ) in the left and right dropouts ( 1a , 1b ) each has a circular arc shape at least in sections and the inserts ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) are adapted to this shape at least in sections. 14. Dropout according to claim 13, characterized in that the recess ( 3 ) is arranged on the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ) and the latter is shaped in such a way that when the right dropout ( 1b ) is used for a derailleur, the arm ( 29 ) of the insert ( 15 ) for connecting the derailleur extends freely downwards. 15. Dropout according to claim 13, characterized in that the insert ( 13 ) for a hub gear is a circular disk which can be inserted into the recess ( 3 ). 16. Dropout according to claim 13, characterized in that the insert ( 14 ) for the left dropout ( 1a ) in derailleur systems is a circular disk which can be inserted into the recess ( 3 ). 17. Dropout according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the insert ( 15 ) for the right dropout ( 1b ) in derailleur systems corresponds in the upper section to the circular shape of the recess ( 3 ) and the - in the installed position - rear section of the insert ( 15 ) is extended as an arm ( 29 ) for receiving the chain system. 18. Dropout according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) has a bore ( 16 ) or a threaded bore ( 18 , 26 ) for receiving a screw ( 8 ) or a pin or the like, which in the installed position is aligned with a bore arranged eccentrically in the recess ( 3 ) or a threaded bore ( 7 ) for fastening and/or as a rotation lock of the insert ( 13 , 14 , 25 ) relative to the recess ( 3 ) and the receiving section ( 2a , 2b ).